Oh no, not spinaci again!Cinelli will have a press conference in Milan today to present their position on the spinaci bar ban.My source in Cinelli has told me that he will keep me informed as the campaign unfolds. Belgian Professional suspended for 2 yearsRobbie Vandaele who rides for the Belgian Ipso team has been banned from racing by the Disciplinary Commission of the Flanders Council. The 25-year old professional was banned because he did not attend a drug test after the kermesse on July 6 at Lede, Belgium.The rider may race outside Belgium during that time, because the penalty was not imposed by the Belgian Cycling Federation. According to the drug control regulations, the failure to attend a drug test is equivalent to a positive test result. Meanwhile, Vandaele has appealed against his two year penalty to Disciplinary Council. The rider has said that he did not about the demand to undertake the test. Vandeale took 8th place in the sprint. He can recall that someone near to the finish grabbed his arm and summoned him to stop. According the Vandaele, from the modest Belgian team, the person never made it known to him that he was an official from the drug control commission. Vandaele had an excellent season on the Belgian circuit taking 7 wins in total. Three years ago he took out his professional licence. More on Virgin DealVirgin has signed a few home based British riders with major goal racing the Prudential Tour. The sponsorship deal is rumoured to be about 400,000 pounds sterling. The company has purchased a considerable number of bikes from Graham Weigh (large UK shop) with the aim of labelling them Virgin bikes for resale.Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania a record Label (Lizard) and a band called Mightyhead are co-sponsors of a road team in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The owner of Lizard tells me that it is the first band to be involved as a team sponsor since ABBA owned a piece of Crescent Bicycles back in the 1970s. If you want a big contract then contact Richard for details. Richard also asked me if it was Mick Jagger supported Chris Boardman and some of his attempts on the track. Is this true? I don't know but lets see who does. Bianchi closes doors in AustraliaWhile Bianchi has signed Marco Pantani due to an increased number of debtors, Bianchi Australia will close its doors at the end of December after 5 years in the cut throat Aussie bike market.The Dutch Professionals plan to sue the KNWUThe Dutch Professionals Cyclists Association (VVBW) will consider suing the Dutch Cycling Federation (Koninklijke Nederlandse Wielrenunie - KNWU). The VVBW will allege in the lawsuit that the KNWU is refusing to issue licences to Dutch riders resident in Belgium."The lawsuit will be in the name of a number of riders. We must pursue this in this manner to try to force a breakthrough." said Gerrit Vixseboxse, the VVBW Secretary. The (UCI) requires that from January 1, 1998 that riders take out a licence in the country where they currently live. Formerly, the riders could choose between the country they were born in and the country where they lived. The new ruling covers 15 Dutch riders, of which Adri van der Poel, Jeroen Blijlevens and Servais Knaven, live in Belgium. Vixseboxse: "Via the National Federation will we get our rights from the UCI. The KNWU must issue the licences. We will allege that the KNWU is refusing. Moreover this is the business of the European Union" The KNWU reacted with surprise to the possibility of a lawsuit. "In the interests of the riders we have not closed this business" said the KNWU director Peter Nieuwenhuis. "We have done nothing. We are at a loss to find that the riders are distressed, but this is our standpoint. We will have to see about a lawsuit." Danny Clark new Track Specific Coach for WAISDanny Clark who was in Perth as a spectator at the recent World Triathlon Championships has been appointed the new track specific coach for the West Australian Institute of Sport cycling program.Go to the Photo Collection to get a load of the jersey that the WAIS puts on him when they release him in public. The source commented that WA Institute of Sport colours are "nearly as ugly as those new Australian tops, but very good camouflage when racing in the jungles of Borneo". The main connection which got Danny over to the West is that fellow Tasmanian Jeff Leslie is West Australian Cycling Federation president and owner of Brevtex Engineering which sponsored the Tour of Tasmania last year. |